Greetings, Earth-brewers and interstellar imbibers.
As the Year of the Fire Horse approaches, one of Western North Carolina’s most respected fermentation outposts is preparing something far more meaningful than a seasonal release. Highland Brewing Company is blending heritage, community, resilience and symbolic craft in a Lunar New Year celebration that reaches beyond the taproom and into Asheville’s cultural fabric.
You might recall we last reported from these hills in Highland Brewing Survives Storm, Thrives on “Thirst for Good” where Highland’s efforts during Hurricane Helene showed this brewery’s dedication to its neighbors.
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Brewing Through Adversity — and Into New Traditions
Oscar Wong, a Chinese-Jamaican immigrant and retired engineer, founded Highland in 1994 — long before Asheville etched itself on the global craft beer map. Over three decades later, classics like Gaelic Ale continue to anchor the brewery’s lineup alongside modern hits like Highland Haze IPA and the Daycation series.
But Lunar New Year carries a different kind of significance.
In 2026, the Fire Horse symbolizes energy, speed and renewal — concepts that resonate deeply here, where the community is still recovering from Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact in fall 2024. When the storm left Asheville without drinking water for nearly two months, Highland turned its taproom and beer coolers into relief hubs. It raised over $13,000 in support for hospitality workers and helped coordinate local support efforts, showing that craft beer can be more than a drink — it can be solidarity.
A Collaboration Rooted in Storytelling
One of the celebration’s highlights is the return of Highland’s annual collaboration with Lucky Envelope Brewing, a Seattle-based Asian-owned brewery known for infusing cultural storytelling into craft beer.
Together, they’ve produced Fire Horse Chocolate Porter, a stout with rich cocoa character and layered malt complexity — a brew that tastes as thoughtful as its concept. This partnership underscores a broader truth: despite Asia’s brewing history dating back thousands of years, only about 2% of U.S. breweries are owned by those of Asian descent. Collaborations like this help expand representation and bring new narrative layers to the craft beer universe.
A Festival Worth the Hilltop Hike
From February 21–22, Highland’s 40-acre campus will transform into a vibrant Lunar New Year festival filled with:
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Dragon dance performances
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Festive food trucks
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Glow-in-the-dark disc golf
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Curated culinary pairings
In addition to the Fire Horse Chocolate Porter, three limited, on-site-only releases will debut:
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Luck Red Ale
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Good Fortune Rice Lager
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Joy Wheat Ale With Lemongrass and Ginger
Highland has also enlisted Chef J Chong, creator of J Chong Eats and a Big Brunch finalist, to headline a Dim Sum Brunch featuring modern interpretations of classic flavors paired with Highland beers — a fusion of food and fermentation that speaks to the emotional core of Lunar New Year traditions.
Standing Apart in a Trend-Driven Industry
In a craft beer world often chasing fad or flavor-of-the-week supremacy, Highland’s Lunar New Year celebration stands apart because it is not just about the beer — it’s about identity, community and resilience.
From Asheville to the wider craft universe, Highland Brewing is proving that honoring cultural roots and serving community isn’t antithetical to creativity — it enhances it.
For readers seeking deeper historical flavor, you might enjoy our dispatch from another Earth brew celebration in Stone Brewing Turns 30 Earth-Years Old where interstellar analysis touched on how legacy and innovation intertwine.
Fire Horse Forward
The Fire Horse may symbolize motion — but in Asheville this year, it symbolizes staying power.
And that’s the kind of narrative this veteran correspondent can get behind.
— BeerAlien 👽🍺🐉
